Society

Hercules Versus Hermes

Author/Director	Mohamed Ulad
Producer	Épiphène Films
Country	France, Morocco
Length	54' & 72'
Year	2012

A few kilometers south of Tangier, near the port town of Asilah, lies the wide golden beach of Sidi Mghait. It is a peaceful place, overlooked by the simple farmhouse of a peasant family, a luxurious modern villa built by a wealthy European businessman, and a small mosque.
Appearances here are deceptive. The beach and its hinterland are the focus of a 10-year clash over land, rights and cultures. Recently arrived, Patrick Guerrand-Hermès, has slowly bought up all the land surrounding the gorgeous beach, with the intention of developing a huge real estate project; only one family has held out, refusing to sell.